Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Suggestions, please!

I learned just today that my chiropractor and his wife are adopting a baby girl, due to be born any day now. They are over the moon with happiness. My husband and I have known them for years and I'd like to knit a little gift for the new girl. But I don't have time to do something big like a blanket.

So I need ideas. What is a relatively fast and easy baby gift that's also useful to the new parents. I've seen cute patterns for booties and hats, but do those really get used?

11 Comments:

I second the Mason Dixon baby bib, and also suggest baby tube socks and no-sew fleece blankets.

I've found in my years as auntie and babysitter that no child can have too many bibs, blankets, onesies, and socks. Babies make a huuuuge mess, and my niece once went through every clean blanket in the house during a particularly bad day.

Go for a garter stitch burp cloth. A friend was knitting one last week at out Stitch and B*tch and I think it was from Mason Dixon knitting but not sure. It looked sweet in cotton and made a great gift with the umbilical cord hat.

After 25+ years of babies...my own and others....I still don't get the bib thing. Had them but rarely used them, gave them and they were rarely used.

I'd go for baby tube socks if you're looking for something really quick. The vintage standby sprial ribbed tube socks are FABULOUS. Very quick and no sizing fears. If you're fast what about an EZ baby surprize... they can be made in a day or two and they are FUN to make. My absolute fav though is a hoodie that zips up the back.

nephele, I will admit there's something especially adorable about booties. I may make a pair and some socks and maybe a bib, too. I have enough yarn here for all of those -- and so few babies to knit for until my grown nieces and nephews start procreating!

Dear one, My number one baby gift that always gets raves is the FRUIT HAT , In acrylic for winter hats and cotton for summer hats. I do it for boys in blue ( for blueberry), in Purple if i don't know if it is a boy or girl ( grape) and in red ( apple or strawberries with green french knots to make a strawberry) for girls. I can whip one up in a few days, because it is on circular needles, my daughter can help me! Knit a tiny amount of green for stem and crochet a leaf, you are done! But for a nice pattern visit here http://www.mindseyeyarns.com/resources/patterns/baby_fruit_hat.htmhope you get it done in time!smiles , grace in VT

My little girl is just over 4 months old and hasn't much hair. Hats are the most useful item at the moment for us as she complains alot when she is cool. My favourite is a cast on of 89 with 3.5 mm needles and 1.5 inch of k1p1 ribbing then switch to a broken rib for the desired length,a bout 4inches. Decrease gradually over several rows as you would any hat then draw end through loops, fasten off and sew seam.

I have found many simple patterns on the internet. My problem is that my children all have big heads so I couldn't knit small sizes for them as they would only last about a month. At 4 months her head is about 16 inches.

Also simple knit thumbless mitts knit larger. I use these at night as well. I use the same broken rib pattern as it has nice stretch.

my broken rib pattern is k2 p2 ending with a k1 on all rows. I found this in an old baby pattern over 20 years ago.

Booties really should come back into favor - they're so much easier to keep on those wriggly, chubby little feet than socks. The pattern I use is an ancient, many times copied pattern out of my grandmother's stash - mostly stockingette with a lace section at the ankle to weave a ribbon through and tie those puppies on.